Cutter-chain for mining-machines



E. C. MORGAN C UTTER CHMIN FOR MINING MACHINES. APPLrcjATloN F'ILED JULI/3,1914.

1 ,325,028. Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

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"Illu .AMITII IMIIIIIIII III i UNITED sTATns *PATENT omnes.

EDMUNDO. VIVIOR'GrAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CUTTER-CHAIN FOR M'ININGTMACVHINES.

Vmining` machines of the endless cutter type, particularly as disclosed in my application for mining machines, Serial No. 818,727,

filed July 1914.

More particularly it is the object -of the present inventionto provide improved cutter chain mechanism for mining machines of thc loop chain type wherein the A,plane ofthe drivingl mechanism is out of the plane-of the kerf cut by the cutter chain.

A `fnrtherrobject of the invention is to pro vide guiding mechanism on the side of the chain opposite from that of the cutters anc interlocking with the chain support to prevent dislocation of the cutter chain with respect to said support. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a loop cutter chain with rollers running` partly in section.

on a plate projecting from said support, a cutaway portion of thel links relatively to said rollers being provided to allow for considerable wear between the rollers Vand said projecting plate.

A. further object of the invention is Vthe provision of specially constructed boltheads coacting with guide grooves, such bolts being prevented from turning by projections .from the links between the cutter links.

Other objects of the invention will` appear hereinafter', the novelcombinations of elements and the novel features of the yinvention being set Vforth in the afPPended claimsY ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is aview of aportioirofa chain, parts 'being shown in full and parts in section, constructed in accordance with the principles yof my invention in combination vwith a guide and support therefor'. j

Fig. is a side elevation of the same,

Sfis'a viewbf theouterside of one lof of Fig. 1, and

'specification of Letters Patent.' Patented Dec.16,*11919. y

Application filed July'S, 1914. Serial No. 848,726.

i vthe critter blocks, with parts ofthe connect- Vinglinks. I

Fig. 'd vis a sectionalview on the line Fig.V 5 is la sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

In operatingY continuous cutter l chains in mining` machines it is necessary that the cutters may Vbe removed from the cutter blocksor cutter chains, and inserted therein,

as quickly as possible It is also necessary that cutter chains of the class to which the present invention appertains be provided with a support of such nature thatl the cutter chain, which is movable, will not become disengaged'from the support, or will not slide or fall therefrom regardless of the direction or position ofthe support. This' is readily apparent, for in some of the cut'- tiiig operations the support may be upside down and unless al suitable construction were employed theI cutter chainwould fallbodily therefrom. Y

In the present invention the numeral S des ignates generally va cutter block formed with pairs of spaced perforated. lugs 9 yat opposite ends thereof, and wit-habit socketvl() having an enlargement 11 adjacent thereto, the socket 10 being adapted to receive a shank 12 of a bit, the tip 13 of which eX- tends from the outer side of 'the cutter block at an angle thereto,- forming a shoulder 14:, which'limits or predeterniines the extent to which the shank 12 of the bit may be inserted in the'socket 1G. At the side of the bit, opposite the shoulder 14 and in the enlarged portion 11 a locking key 15 is in" with a wedging face of the enlarged portion. At the vouter end the locking key is formed with a hook 16, by which it is yadapted to be engaged byv a tool 17, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1, for-withdrawing or partially withdrawing the keyrfrom the socket. The inner end of 'the locking key 15 is pivotedyor otherwise connected to aIV stirrup V18, and the cutter' block is formed with a recess 19, in which is a projection 20 to-.contain the stirrup and to'permit a longise-rvtedrhaving a wedging face toV4 correspond with its shoulder 11 against the outer end of the cutter block.

To connect the adjacent cutter blocks a pair of oppositely disposed links 22 and 23, each having projections 24, is inserted from opposite sides through the perforations of the lugs until the corresponding projections engage each other, and mounted on each p air of projections between the corresponding lugs 9, is a roller 25, which substantially fills the space between the lugs 9, and is preferably of such a diameter that the outer face is flush with the lugs 9 and the links 22 and 23, as shown in Fig.k l, with the exception of the lower side of one of the lugs 9, and one of the. links 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

A bolt 26 is inserted through the abutting projections of opposite link members 22 and 23, and is preferably provided with a head 27 having a projection 2S on one side of the chain and with an ordinary fastening nut and washer 29 and 30.

rlhe chain moves upon and is held by a support 31, upon which the rollers run, with a member 32 forming a shoulder 33 against l which the inside edge of the chain abuts, the

support 31 extending the full width of the roller but not beyond'it, and the cut away portion of one of the lugs 9 and the inside link 23, being disposed between the roller and the shouldered member The plate 31 therefore constitutes a runway for the rollers 25. Secured to the support 31 is a guide 34, with-an orerhanging slot in which the projections 28 of the bolt heads 27 engage, so that as the chain is moved on the support 31, it rides freely on its rollers and the heads of the bolts engage the guide and prevent the dislocation of the chain with respect to the support, even though the chain were .depending from the support. The cut away portion at the lower inside edge of the chain permits the wear betweenV the roller and the support to be taken up, the engagement of the head of the bolt with the groove 35 being such that a considerable take up of wear is possible without the disengagement thereof.

lVith this construction it is obvious that the bits may be removed or inserted with ease, itY being necessary only to insert the end of a tool 17, as shown in Fig. 1, below the hook of the locking key, and to draw the Akey outwardly against the tension of the spring 21, whereupon 'the bit will be free engagement therewith-amt may be inse or removed with perfect ease. This structure for holding the cutting tools in place ,in a cutter chain of this type is cove ed broadly inv my co-pending application `55er. No. 860,371, filed September 5, 1914:, for cutting chains for mining machines.

It should be particularly noted that the feeding direction of the chain cutter is inlessees dic-ated in F 1 by the arrow 39 and in Fig. et by the arrow 39. Obviously the driving sprocket for the chain is in a plane loyated substantially at right angles to this direction of feed and intermediate the path of travel of the cutters and the chain guiding mechanism. The path of travel of the cutters is parallel to the path of travel of the heads 27 and projections 28, and such paths of travel are determined by the posi` tion or locationr of the guiding mechanism comprising the shouldered member 32 and the lguide 34. It will thus be seen that the structure herein disclosed is particularly adapted for use in mining` machines having loop chain core cutting mechanism with an unobstructed core opening therethrough, such as disclosed in my application for inining machines, Ser. No. 848,727, filed July 3, 1914, and allowed January 7, 1919.

lt should be particularly observed that the member 32 may constitute a part of a frame having an unobstructed core opening therethrough, so vthat when it is moved forward for cutting the core of material in its native bed, the thrust will be taken by that portion of the chain opposite to the cutters. By referring to Fig. et it will be seen that the thrust will be distributed over the sur` face 33, the surface between the links 23 and y the guide strips 34, and also by the heads 2T and 28 against the inner surfaces of the members 32 and 3st.' The line of drive is preferably in vthe plane at right angles to the chain including the bolts 2G along a line passing through the center of the rollers 25 from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, or in the plane of the adjoining inner surfaces of the projections 2-l. The driving element may be a sprocket wheel the teeth of which project into the spaces between the rollers..

The bolt heads 27 being rectangular .in shape, as shown in Fig. 2, may-easily be kept fromturning by providing the lugs 36 extending laterally from the links 23 and engaging one of the end surfaces of the heads 27 in each instance, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. ln this manner when the nuts 29 are securely fastened in position, the guiding projections 28 are firmly held in proper relation to the guide groove 35, as shown in Fig. 4.

The body portion 32 of the frame support for the cutter chain, is Vprovided with a plurality of spaced apart holes to receive the bolts 37 which, when-the nuts 3S are in position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1, hold rigidly together the plate 31, the grooved plate 311 and the body portion 32 of the frame. lt will thus be seen that when the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. et, the rollers 25 rest on the projections 31, so that asthe latter wear to some extent, the space below the right hand portion of the links 23 will allow for such wear. The bolt heads 27 lit llO loosely in the L-shaped recess in the forward edge of the, body portion 32 of the frame support, and if desired the entire on the'chain during the .cutting operation may )locked to thesupporting frame, althou 'h movable longitudinally thereof, this "ivill prevent the chain from being tilted of the support and also from being disconnected therefrom when the cutter chain is moved backwardly throv produced thereby.

Obviously thoseskilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts Without' departing from the spirit andscope ofmy invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, land I Wish, therefore, not to be `restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

What I claim and desire to have secured by Letters Patent of the United VStates,is

l. The combination with a traveling cutter chain for mining machines, of rollers carried by said chain, a support engaged by said rollers, a slotted guide secured to said support and located back of said chain rela,- tive to its direction of feed, and mechanism projecting rearwardly from said chain relative to said direction of feed to engage the slot of the guide to prevent the dislocation of said chain from said support and to guide said chain for a path of travel transversely of the direction of feed for a'plane of drive in advance of said slotted guide and transversely of such direction of feed.

2. The combination with a cutter chain, of a support for carrying said chain for feeding movement in a direction transverse to the plane of said chain and for driving movement along the forward edge of said support, a guide secured to said support back of the cutter chain relative to the direction of feeding movement, said guide having an undercut slot located back of said chain relative to its feeding direction, and a rearward projection from said chain in position to engage the said slot to prevent dislocation of said chain from said support during movements of said chain including movement thereof directly opposite to the said feeding movement.

3: ln a device. of the class described, the combination with movable blocks, of links connected therewith, bolts, to connectuthe links together and to the blocks, cach having a head With a lateral projection therefrom, and a guide With a groove to engageV the lateral projection of the head of the bolt to hold the chain in a predetermined'.pcsition.

4. cutter chain for mining machine ugh a kerf which ,has been comprising Vocutter blocks, connecting links, bolts for. connecting the links and blocksv together, a guide, and projections from the heads of somt-ofthe bolts back of the chain relative toits feeding direction to lcoact With said guide. tohold the chain'in position with respect to the guide andprevent the chain from movingV away from the guide while permitting free movement along the saine. l

combination.Y Vwith a .cutter chain comprising cutterl blocks, links, and bolts for ccnnecting the blocks and links together, Qf a support upon which said Chain is adapted-to travel, and a guide secured to said suppgrt to coact with the heads of some of the belts back ofthe cutter chain relative toits direction of feed to hold the chain in position en said support by holding the chain from movement away from said support and guiding said chain for path of l travel transversely of its direction of feed for a plane of drive in advance of said guide,y said plane of drive extending transl verselyof suchdirection of feed.

6. The combination with a cutter chain having opposite faces adapted kto engage the driving means, Of a plurality of cutters extending from. one edge of said chain to one side. of the line of drive, a frame for the oppQsite edge of said chain, an extension from said frame along one of the faces of Said chain and intersecting the. 1in@ 0f drive, and a connection between that edge of the Chain Qpiaeste the Gutters and the fram@ t0 hold the cha-in in place relatively to said frame, While the face of Said Chain Opposite extension remains freeV and .unobstructed 7g The conibiiiaticn Withy a narrow suppnrting frame adapted to enter a kerf in a mine wall, of a chain cutter the hinges ofV which extend in the direction of the feed o f said cutter, inte.rlocking-guid e mechanisin back the chain relative to its direction of feedV and between said chain and said Vsupporting frame. and a runway extending frcm said frame to the intermediate portion' of the cutter chain. Y l

8. rI he combination with a cutter chain adapted for a. plane of drive substantially at rig-ht angles tothe plane of said chain and tothe direction of. feed thereof, of a support, interlocking guiding mechanism back of said chain relative to such direction of Yfeed andbetivcen said chain and said support and spacedmfrorn such plane of drive, a dat plate serving asl a runway for the interinediate portion of saidchain and eXtending. from said support to a position intersectingf said, plane of drive, and cutters carried by said chain and extending from that side thereof opposite the said interlockimgl guiding' mechanism 9, The combination with a chain vcutter ias having a plan@ of drive extending transversely of the direction of feed, the pivot pins of which extend in the direction of the feed of said chain cutter, of a series of rollers mounted on the chain of said chain cutter with the axis of said rollers extending in the direction of feed, a frame, interlocking guiding mechanism between said frame and said chain back of the latter relative to the direction of feed to hold the chain against movement away from lsaid frame while permitting free movement of said chain along said frame during the cutting operation, and a runway extending from said frame and engaged by said rollers.

10. A cutter chain for mining machines comprising cutter blocks having opposite spaced perforated lugs, links having projections adapt-ed to be inserted oppositely in pairs through the perforations of adjacent spaced blocks until the projections abut, the bearing side of the cutter blocks and the links being partially cut` away, a roller mounted on each pair of abutting projections and projecting` beyond the cut-away surface of the lug and adjacent links, but not beyond the outer lugs, in combination with a support extencing over that portion of the chain where the links and lugs have been cut away to support the chain upon the rollers thereof but not extending outwardly beyond the rollers.

11. A cutter chain for mining machines of the loop chain core-cutter type, comprising cutter blocks with opposite spaced perforated lugs, links having projections adapted to be inserted oppositely in pairs through the perforations of adjacent blocks until such projections abut, the bearing side of the links and lugs on one side of the chain boing cut away, a roller mounted on each pair of abutting projections and projecting beyond the cut away surface of the lug and the link but not beyond the other lug, combined with guiding mechanism comprising a cutter frame having a rentrant groove therein back of said chain, means projecting rearwardly from said chain for travel along said groove to hold said chain from movement away from said frame, and a support projecting forwardly from said frame relative to the direction of feed in position for engagement by said rollers while said chain is guided along said frame for a plane of drive in advance of said guiding mechanism, such plane of drive extending transversely of the direction of feed.

12. The combination with a chain cutter comprising pivot rods for connecting the chain links, said rods being provided with laterally projecting heads, of means for preventing said heads from turning relatively to said chain, a frame support for said chain, and guiding mechanism between said. frame support and said heads.

l 13. The combination with a cutter chain, comprising bolts at the pivotal portions thereof, means for preventing the heads of the bolts from turning relatively to the links of said chain, a frame for supporting said chain, and guiding mechanism between said frame and the heads of said bolts.v

14. The combination with a cutter chain having pivots extending in the direction of feed, of ya supporting frame having a body portion with an angular recess in the forward edge thereof back of the chain relative to the direction of feed, a plurality of spaced apart devices connected to one edge of said chain and tting in said recess, and a grooved member secured to said body portion and coacting with said devices to lock said chain `against movement away from said frame while permitting free guiding movement longitudinally thereof for a plane of drive vtransverse 0f the direction of feed.

15. The combination with a cutter chain having pivots extending in the direction of feed and a plane of drive extending transversely of such direction of feed, of a supporting frame, a plate secured to said frame, said plate having an inner groove, and means extending from said chain into said groove back of said chain relative to the saiddirection of feed'in position to guide the chain along said frame and said grooved plate.

16. The combination with a cutter chain, of a supporting frame comprising an intermediate body portion, a plate extending from said body portion to serve as a runway for one side of said chain intermediate its forward and rear sides, a series of rollers carried by said chain for movement along said runway, an additional plate secured to said body portion with its outer surface adjacent said chain approximately in the plane of that side of said chain opposite the aforesaid intermediate side, and a plurality of spaced-apart devices extending from the rear side of said chain in position to coact with said additional` plate to guide said chain along said body portion on said runway and preventing movement of said chain away from said body portion whereby the thickness of said chain is increased only by the thickness of said runway, said additional plate being secured to said body portion wholly back of the rear edge of said chain.

17. rlhe combination with a cutter chain comprising a series of bolts at the pivotal connections between the links, of means for preventing the heads of the bolts from turning relatively to the links engaged there-by, projections on the heads of saidl bolts, a frame, and means carried by said frame and having an inner groove coacting with said projections on said heads to provide an pivots of which extend in the direction of the feed of said cutter, and interlocking guiding mechanism for said chain spaced from the plane of drive thereof back of the chain relative to such direction of feed.

20. The combination with a cutting chain having a plane of drive transverse of the direction of feed and having links providedv with projections at the rear side of said chain relative to the direction of travel, cutters mounted on the opposite side of said chain for cutting travel longitudinally of the chain and feeding movement in the` direction ofthe. pivots of said chain, a cutter head having a liange, and an overhanging portion on said flange to form a groove to engage said projections Vand confine the same to movement along said groove.

21. In mechanism for cutting narrow kerfs in a mine wall, the combination with a cutter chain having link pivots extending in the direction of the feed, of a supporting frame in alinement with said cutter chain in a plane passing therethrough, said chain having a plane of drive transverse of the direction of feed, and interlocking guiding mechanism between said cutter chain and said supporting frame back of the chainv relative to such direction of feed to guide the cutter chain along said frame while preventing disconnection therefrom.

22. A mining machine chain cutter comprising a link structure having a plane of drive transverse to the feeding direction of said cutter, cutting means at one side of said chain, a supporting frame adapted to enter the kerf cut by said chain cutter, and interlocking guiding means at the other side of said chain back of the latter relative to the direction of feed and on said supporting frame to prevent movement of said chain away from said supporting frame in feeding direction but permitting free movement of said chain along said frame in the direction of cutting travel.

23. A. mining machine chain cutter comprising a link structure having pivots eX- tending inthe direction of the feed of said cutter and having a plane of drive substantially at right angles to said pivots and to the opposite faces of the chain, cutting mechanism secured to one side of said cha-in at one side of the plane of drive and spaced therefrom, and guiding means connected to the other side of said chain at'the other side of said plane of drive and spaced therefrom and with onel of its exposed surfaces substantially in the. same plane as the adjacent of the chain, saidV guiding means being spaced fromsaid plane Vof drive atv the back of the chain relative to the said direction of feed. j'

24. A mining' machine chain cutter comprising a link structure having pivot pins between links, said pivot pins extendingin the direction of the feed of said cutter and transversely of the plane fof drive, cutting mechanism secured to one side .of said chain' at one side of said plane of drive' and spaced therefrom, a frame adapted to enter the kerfV cut by said cutter, and interlocking guiding mechanism between the other side of said chainand said frame back of the said chain relative to the said direction of feed for guiding' theV chain along' the line of .cuttingtravel and locking vsaid chain" against the movement away from said' 'fra-me in the direction offeed', the line'ofdrive being intermediate the cutting mechanism and`v saidy interlocking guidingmeans in a plane substantially at right angles to thev direction of feed.4 'Y Y 25. In a loop chain core cutter, the combination. with movable blocks, of links connected therewith, pins for pivotally connecting the links and the blocks, cutters mounted on said blocks for feeding movementV in the direction of said pivot pins and for cutting travel ina direction transverse to said pivot pins, lateral projections extending from the side of the chain opposite the cutters and rearwardly from the chain relatively to the direction of feed, and a guide with a groove to engage said projections to hold the chain in a predetermined position.

26. A mining machine chain-cutter comprising pivot pins between links of the chain of said cutter, guide heads on said pins, a frame having a guideway for said guide heads, and means for holding said guide heads in` a predetermined position relatively to saidlinks to maintain said guide heads in predetermined relation to said guideways. j

27. A mining machine chain-cutter comprising pivot pins between the links of the chain of'said cutter extending in the directionof the feed of the latter substantiallyV at right angles to the plane of drive, a frame such guide heads to prevent their turning relatively to said links and to hold said guide heads in predetermined position ior free movement along said guideway.

28.' A mining machine chain-cutter comprising pivot bolts between the links o1" the chain of said cutter, said bolts having nuts at their outer ends and heads at their inner ends, a frame for said chain, means on said frame to serve as a guideway i'or said chain, an interlocking connection between said iframe and said chain to prevent the latter from moving away from said frame while permitting free movement along the saine,

\ such interlocking connection comprising projections from said heads, and projections on the links adjacent the frame for engaging the heads ot' said bolts to prevent their turning and to hold all of the projections 'from the heads of said bolts in predetermined positions for eiecting the interlocking connection between said frame and said chain.

29. n a chain cutter for loop chain corecutting mining machines, the combination with a plurality of cutter links having sockets extending into the same from the forward edge thereof, ot cutters extending into said sockets, guiding devices extending from the rear side of said cutter links, a guide frame in series with said links and cutters in the direction 0I" feed, means for locking said guiding devices to said guide frame all 'along the latter to conne said guiding devices to a predetermined path of movement relative to said guide frame, and intermediate links connected alt n"natelyy between said cutter links to constitute a chain having` a line ot drive in a. plane approximately at right angles to the direction of feed and intermediate the cutting path of travel and said predetermined path of movement.

30. In chain cutting mechanism for mining machines, the combination with a plurality of. links to form a chain, of cutting devices connected to the front side of said chain and extending forwardly therefrom, and means connected to said chain and extending' rearwardly therefrom to support said chain for a plane of drive spaced forwardly from said supporting means, such plane oit drive being, substantially at right angles to the feeding path of travel and parallel to the cutting path of travel oi' said chain and cutting devices thereon.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses, on this 1st day ot July, A.y D. 1914.

EDMUND C. MORGAN.

lVitnesses v CHARLES M. Nissan, CHARLES H. 

